Contract Work vs Law School Forum

[CSCS Trainer]

I just got off the phone with a friend who is a a major researcher in the field of Exercise Physiology ( my undergrad & graduate field ). She sent me information on a couple jobs at her facility, full-time but contract work.

The first job is to direct a research study and that job is scheduled for 3-4 years. With my qualifications she said I would make between $65-$80k a year.

The second job is to help direct an exercise therapy research center with an annual salary of between $50-$60k. There is no guarantee on the length of time for this position as it is funded by grants from the US government. *This position is pretty much guaranteed*

The jobs are a 5 hour drive or 45 min plane ride from where I currently live.

My situation: I have been out of full-time work for 1 year and 4 months. I do some contract/consulting work, but nothing consistent. I am a 34 year old, divorced father of 3 with joint custody and currently paying no child support.

Unless I get into SMU, I will have to move to attend law school - thus requiring a change to the custody/child support situation. This would be the same if I received one of the above jobs.

Most likely I will be attending a lower level school such as Marquette, Michigan State, etc. While I know I can excel in school, I know job prospects from lower ranking schools are much lower.

So should I go for the job/s or still shoot for law school?

[bk1]

Do you like your field? I mean unless you have some god awful hankering to become a lawyer, or absolutely loathe what you do, I would stay with it.

The kids also makes it pretty easy to stay where you are over choosing to pursue law school somewhere else.

[CSCS Trainer]

Do you like your field? I mean unless you have some god awful hankering to become a lawyer, or absolutely loathe what you do, I would stay with it.

The kids also makes it pretty easy to stay where you are over choosing to pursue law school somewhere else.

I'm sure it's like any job, I've become burned out. However, directing the research study or the exercise therapy center would be different from what I have been doing for the last several years.

Either way, law school or job, I would have to move. The only difference with the job is I could fly back every weekend.

The thing I'm worried about is that there is no guarantee of employment after the study/grant is up?

[bk1]

I'm sure it's like any job, I've become burned out. However, directing the research study or the exercise therapy center would be different from what I have been doing for the last several years.

Either way, law school or job, I would have to move. The only difference with the job is I could fly back every weekend.

The thing I'm worried about is that there is no guarantee of employment after the study/grant is up?

Would both of them require flying?

The study is 3-4 years, that is a long enough time to line up a job for after that so I don't see the temporary nature as being that bad. The research center is another beast entirely and I would look into how likely it would be that your employment would be renewed, something that I don't think anybody here could really answer for you.

[CSCS Trainer]

Would both of them require flying?

The study is 3-4 years, that is a long enough time to line up a job for after that so I don't see the temporary nature as being that bad. The research center is another beast entirely and I would look into how likely it would be that your employment would be renewed, something that I don't think anybody here could really answer for you.

Yes both jobs are in the same location. Good point on the research study, it's just tough not to know how the economy will pan out ( like anything else ). This is the first time I haven't had a full-time job in 19 years. So it's discouraging.

Thanks for the opinions.

[LSATclincher]

Take the 3-4yr job and go to law school part time. If you REALLY want to be a lawyer, you'll do this. If not, stick w/ the contract work, and continue looking.

Good luck,

[joemoviebuff]

Do you like your field? I mean unless you have some god awful hankering to become a lawyer, or absolutely loathe what you do, I would stay with it.

The kids also makes it pretty easy to stay where you are over choosing to pursue law school somewhere else.

I'm sure it's like any job, I've become burned out. However, directing the research study or the exercise therapy center would be different from what I have been doing for the last several years.

Either way, law school or job, I would have to move. The only difference with the job is I could fly back every weekend.

The thing I'm worried about is that there is no guarantee of employment after the study/grant is up?

There's no guarantee of employment after law school either, and you'll be in an assload of debt. I'd keep going with what you have, and second the poster who said part time while working is the best option if you're dying to be a lawyer.